Korean Industrial Site Remains Closed, Despite Talks

July 15, 2013

A third round of talks between South and North Korea on Monday was unsuccessful in producing an agreement on the terms for resuming joint economic activities at a shuttered industrial zone in the North, the Associated Press reported.

Pyongyang and Seoul in recent weeks agreed in principle on the importance of reopening the Kaesong industrial complex, which was closed when relations between the two nations took a nosedive this spring. The two sides have agreed to hold another round of talks on Wednesday.

The North wants Seoul to cease its joint armed forces maneuvers with the United States. Meanwhile, South Korea is calling for assurances that there will be no more one-sided moves by Pyongyang to close Kaesong if Korean Peninsula relations sour once again.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Monday voiced skepticism over the manner in which Pyongyang pivoted so rapidly from confrontation to calls for reconciliation with the South, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

"This about-face to hold talks (by North Korea) raises some doubts about its sincerity," the foreign policy chief said in Seoul.

"We, along with the international community, will strongly adhere to maintaining deterrence against North Korea and not tolerate its nuclear development," Yun continued.